Moments Parents Can Use To Make a Difference

Related Resources • Christmas Craft Projects • Free Stocking Stuffers • Gift Ideas for Teenagers

This is a guest feature from the White House National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign.

The holiday season provides parents with wonderful chances to spend quality time with their children-why not take advantage of this time together to begin or continue a dialogue about preventing drug use?

Studies show that kids who learn about the risks of drugs from parents or other caregivers are 36 percent less likely to smoke marijuana than those who don't. Surveys also show that most teens that have rejected marijuana credit their parents for their decision over any other influence.

Health communications expert Sandra Wills Hannon, Ph.D. says that parents do have a tremendous influence over their kids' decisions. "Kids really need their parents' guidance to teach them the difference between right and wrong. By keeping the lines of communication open, parents can talk to their kids about how to cope with stress in healthy, constructive ways and they can let their children know that they're always there for them."

We've compiled a list of some great activities that parents and kids can do together this holiday season to encourage communication:

Volunteer as a family.
The holidays are a time for us to give thanks for our blessings. What better way to pay homage than to give back to those less fortunate? Volunteerism the perfect way to show children that giving is just as important as receiving. Your family can work with local non-profit organizations to adopt a family during the holidays, bake for a soup kitchen, or write holiday greetings to military personal away for the holidays. Visit www.volunteermatch.org to find a cause in which you'd like to involve your family.

Build a scrapbook or online photo album.
Pictures capture memories for all of us and digital cameras are at the top of many gift lists this year. As fun and easy as they are to use, what is a family to do with a stockpile of digital images? Why not build an online photo album with your kids? You'll help them learn more about technology while taking a trip down memory lane. You will, of course want to keep online safety in mind.

MyFamily.com allows you to upload pictures in a password-protected environment. This way you can share your photos with only those family members and friends you wish. Or, if you are JavaScript literate, you can password protect any of the free web site pages available on the Net. Also, one web site, Hallmark Stories, allows users to compile their digital photos in fun, creative templates and then have the online version converted into a hardcopy album, magazine, or wallet-sized books. If you're using a standard camera, visit About.com's Scrapbooking site for some great ideas for creating fun, unique scrapbooks.

Create a new holiday song.
Whether you're a kid or just a kid-at-heart, music is a universal way to share and communicate with one another. Sit down with your children and write a song that describes your family's holiday traditions and memories. Whether it's silly and wacky or touching and tender, song is a time-honored way of expressing our love for one another during special times throughout the year. Need some inspiration? Visit The Holiday Zone for ideas for almost any holiday.